Localization of ragweed antigens in the intact ragweed pollen grain.

Abstract

A study was done to localize the soluble antigens on the intact ragweed pollen grains. For this purpose, ragweed pollen grains were paraffin embedded, sectioned and stained with FITC-conjugated antisera to the various ragweed antigens. The results demonstrate that the major water-soluble antigens, WSR, antigen E and RA3 are localized to the <i>exine</i> of the ragweed pollen grain. Similarly, the soluble antigens of grass, timothy and birch pollen were localized to the surface of the respective intact pollen grain.